The Narrator is an elderly, self-described "unambitious" and "safe" lawyer operating on Wall Street. Recently appointed as Master of Chancery, he runs a small office copying legal proceedings and values peace and predictability in his business. He views himself as a generous and rational man, frequently attempting to practice charity toward his eccentric employees. However, his charitable impulses are often driven by a desire to feel virtuous and avoid direct confrontation.

Bartleby is a quiet, destitute, and pale young man hired to copy legal documents. Initially, he proves to be an incredibly hard worker, copying documents by candlelight behind a folding screen in the Narrator's office. Soon, however, he begins calmly but firmly declining all requests to perform standard tasks or leave the premises. He exists in profound isolation, seemingly devoid of family or social ties, and subsists entirely on a diet of cheap ginger nut cakes.

Turkey is an elderly scrivener who has worked for the Narrator for many years. He is severely constrained by poverty, wearing a coat provided by his employer and a dilapidated hat he refuses to replace. His work habits operate on a strict, predictable schedule: he is highly productive and respectful in the mornings, but predictably becomes agitated, sloppy, and combative every day after lunch.

Nippers is a young, ambitious scrivener plagued by severe indigestion. He resents his position as a mere copyist, occasionally drafting original documents and receiving visits from unsavory clients. Unlike Turkey, his period of extreme irritability occurs strictly in the mornings, while he settles into a calmer demeanor during the afternoon hours. He frequently adjusts his desk in a futile attempt to find a comfortable working position.

Ginger Nut is a young boy who works in the Wall Street law office for a wage of one dollar per week. His primary duty involves fetching apples and cakes for the older scriveners. His nickname derives from the cheap ginger nut cakes that he constantly delivers to the office workers.

Mr. Cutlets is a food vendor who works within a restrictive institutional environment. He provides higher-quality meals to individuals under his facility's supervision in exchange for a fee. He operates on a purely transactional basis, ensuring that those who can pay receive better treatment than the standard fare allows.